Cutting machine



March 28, 1950 F. L. HOWARD 2,502,043

CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 1, 1946 3 sheets-sheet 1 56 I 39 an IF? .1 52 a L z a? 30 as 25 ,5 25

Arms/v.51

March 28, 1950 F. HOWARD 2,502,043

CUTTING. MACHINE Filed Jun 1, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 2 90 FF 'L. J f

' -fl 4 2" 0;. A 37 1 v 3 a? 1 I Y $2 l 22 4 w KB 38 D x J l I 32 5 9 51 L. 5

G 5 o a INVENTOR. IQANK L Hwneo,

WWW

28, 1950 HOWARD 2,502,043

CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 1, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheeii 3 v I N V EN TOR. i A/z .5. How/120,

A TTOQNEX Patented Mar. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUTTING MACHINE Frank L. Howard, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application June 1, 1946, Serial No. 673,847

7 Claims. (Cl. 2622'0) This invention has to do with a cutting machine and relates more particularly to a machine useful for cutting blocks or samples of concrete or like material, it being a general object of the invention to provide an improved, simplified machine for this general class of work.

It is often desirable or necessary to cut concrete or the like, for example, it is frequently necessary to take test blocks or samples from concrete bodies or structures, or to cut concrete bodies to remove parts to form holes therein. Pneumatic hammers are commonly employed to cut concrete but such devices are often in- J'urious and do not make .cuts such as are desired for the class of work indicated. Rotary machines or core cutters have been provided that effectively cut sample cores or blocks but they are limited to cutting round holes or to the formation of round blocks.

A general object of my invention is to provide a cutting machine that can be applied to a structure or to a body of concrete so that it makes one or more elongate cuts therein and can thus be used to advantage in the formation of test blocks or slabs.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of the general character referred to which involves few simple parts that can be conveniently operated to feed cutting saws vertically and horizontally so that the saws can be initially advanced into the work to the desired depth and then can be fed along to make an longate cut in the work.

It is another object of my present invention to provide a cutter or cutting machine of the general 1 type referred to which is portable so that it can be readily transported from place to place and can be quickly set up in operating position at the work to be performed.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine that I have provided, showing it applied to a slab of concrete, the concrete being shown in section and the machine being shown in course of operation so that it cuts an elongate block from the slab of concrete. Fig. 2 is a view of the machine taken substantially as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan sectional view taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged View of the lower portion of the machine, as shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detailed transverse sectional view taken substantially as indi- .cated by line 6-4 on Fig. 1. Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a side elevation of a modified form of my invention, and Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 8-8 on Fig. 7..

The machine that I have provided can be used, generally, for making elongate cuts in slabs or bodies of material such as concrete. The machine may be most frequently used on horizontally disposed slabs of concrete such as floors, roadways, and the like, and therefore I have, in the drawings, illustrated it as applied to a horizontal slab of concrete 0 and will refer to the machine as being positioned on or related to such an object of work, it being understood that the machine may be applied to work disposed in any position, in which case the machine as a whole will take a suitable position relative to the work.

The machine that I have provided involves, generally, two spaced supports A, a head B supported by each support to be shiftable or adjustable vertically, means D operable to shift or adjust the heads vertically relative to the supports, a beam E extending between the heads B, a body F slidably supported by the beam, a shaft G carried by the body and carrying one or more disc cutters H, a prime mover J carried by the body F. drive means K between the prime mover J and the cutter shaft G, means L for adjusting the body along the beam, means M for handling water, or the like, so that it is delivered to the cutters and various other parts, and features of construction all .of which will appear from the following description.

Each support ,A preferably involves a base 2!, a pair of vertically spaced posts 22 projecting upwardly from the base, and a cross head 23 joining the upper ends of the posts. In practice I prefer to form the base 2! of a plate or sheet of metal which is vertically disposed and has a center portion 24 extending transverse of the machine and angularly disposed side parts or wings 25 which project from the center portion and serve to brace or stabilize the base. In practice I provide one or more feet 26 on the base and the feet maybe secured to the work by expansion bolts 21' or the like. Further, I may provide lugs 28 on the base carrying set screws 29 by which the base can be adjusted or leveled to the desired position.

The posts 22 are preferably smooth round bars secured to the base 21 as by welding 30 or the like. The posts project a substantial distance above the base and their upper ends are tied together and braced relative to each other by the cross arm 23.

There is a head B carried by each support and each head preferably includes a box-like housing 3! carrying bearing sleeves 32 which slidably pass the rods 22. The heads are rigid elements and through the construction just described they are slidably supported by the posts to move freely lengthwise of the posts. The means 13 provided for adjusting the heads relative to the supports includes, generally, a screw means in connection with each head and interconnections between the screw means. The screw means provided for each head involves a fixed screw 33 carried by the support that carries the head, and a nut 34 threaded on the screw and carried by the head. In the particular case illustrated the screw 33 extends vertically between the cross arm =23 of the support and a bracket 35 on the support, and is held by these parts so that it is rigid. The nut 34 is located in the housing 3i of the head and is confined between spaced brackets 35 in the housing so that it is confined in the housing for rotation only, with the result that it advances along the screw and carries the housing with it when it is rotated.

The means interconnecting the screw means just described preferably includes a shaft 31 extending between the heads B and carrying worm gears 58 which mesh with worm wheels 39 formed on the nuts 34. The shaft 31 is rotatably supported by the housings 3| of the heads and has one or more parts exposed so that it can be engaged for operation. In the case illustrated I have.

engaged by an operating crank M, the end part 7 40 being made polygonal so that it can be gripped by the crank. The interconnecting means just described connects the heads B so that when the shaft 31 is rotated the two heads are moved uniformly either up or down, depending upon the directions of rotation of the shaft.

The beam E is an elongate tubular part preferably round in cross section and is a simple straight member extending between the heads B. The ends of the beam can be connected to the heads in any suitable manner, for instance, as shown in the drawings, each head may be provided with a projecting split clamp 42 receiving an end of the beam and a clamp bolt 43 may be provided at each clamp for setting the clamp on the end of the beam.

The body F of the machine is carried by the beam E for movement along the beam and it preferably includes, generally, a sleeve or collar portion 50 surrounding the beam, a housing or case depending from the collar 50 to carry the shaft G and to house portions of the means K, and a platform 52 arranged to support the prime mover J. The collar 50 surrounds the beam and has a bore 53 turned so that it slides freely along the beam. The case 5| may be formed integrally with the collar and depend from the collar to extend downwardly to a point close to the surface of the work. The case 5| shown in the drawings involves spaced sides 55, ends 56 and a bottom 51. In practice I provide an access opening in one of these parts of the case, preferably in one of the ends of the case, which opening is normally closed by a removable cover 58. The platform 52 is preferably located immediately above the collar 50 to be just above the beam E and. it is preferably shaped and formed to properly accommodate the prime mover J. In the case illustrated in the drawings the prime mover J is an electric motor and the platform is a plain flat platform on which the motor is secured through suitable tie down means common to structures of this character.

The shaft G is supported by the lower end portion of the case 5! and preferably extends through the lower end portion of the case to be supported in bearings carried by the sides 55 of the case. In the preferred arrangement shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings anti-friction bearings l? are carried by the sides of the case and the shaft has turned parts 6! held in the bearing and engaged by sealing devices 62 located just outside the bearings. Bearing retainers 55 are applied to retain the bearings in the case, and washers 53 of felt or the like are preferably arranged outside the retainers and seals as shown in the drawings. The projecting ends 54 of the shaft are designed so that each will'carry one or more cutters H, it being preferred to confine the cutters between collars ill arranged on the shaft parts 64 and to clamp the collars and cutters together by clamp nuts ll threaded on the shaft parts (it. In the usual case there is a dis cutter on each end of the shaft or immediately outside of each side 55 of the case. However, it will be apparent that I can provide cutters on only one of the ends of the shaft and I may provide more than one cutter on one end of the shaft or on both ends of the shaft, as circumstances require.

In practice I form the case with guards i5 for the cutters, which guards preferably extend around the cutters as far as is possible without interfering with their action and preferably include cover plates 75 arranged over the outer sides of the cutters. The cover plates are made removable to facilitate removal or replacement of the cutters.

The drive means K for driving the shaft G from theprime mover J may vary in form and design. The preferred form of drive means, as shown in the drawings, involves a jack shaft 89 supported transversely in the upper end portion of the case 5| to have an end projecting from the case to carry a pulley 8 l. A drive pulley 82 is mounted on the motor shaft 33 and a multiple belt 84 runs over the pulleys 8i and 82 so that the jack shaft is driven by the motor. A drive is provided between the jack shaft and the cutter shaft within the case 5!. This drive preferably includes a sprocket 85 on the jack shaft, a sprocket B5 on the cutter shaft, and a multiple chain 8'! carried by the sprockets. I prefer, in practice, to provide an access opening in the case so that a releasable link of the chain can be conveniently manipulated. In the structure illustrated an access opening is provided in one of the sides 55 of the case and is normally closed by a removable plug 88.

The means L for feeding the body F along the beam E preferably includes a splined shaft extending between the heads B and having an end portion 9| projecting from one of the heads to be engaged by a crank 41. A worm gear 92 is keyed onto the splined shaft and meshes with and drives a worm wheel 93 mounted on a shaft 94 carried by the case 5!. The shaft 94 carries a pinion 95 that meshes with a rack 95 on the beam so that when the shaft 94 is turned the rack and pinion operate to cause movement of the body along the beam, the direction of movement being dependent upon the direction of rotation of the shaft 94.

The means M provided for supplying Water or the like to the cutters H preferably includes a pump 91 located at one side of the case 5! and having a shaft 98 driven from the'jack shaft 8B. The pump may be supplied with suitable fluid, say for instance, water. through a flexible conduit .99 and suitable distributing lines H may extend from the pump to the points where it is desired to deliver the water onto the cutters.

The form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings involves substantially the same elements as described concerning the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, and in fact the elements may be identical except for those features that I will 1 point out in the following description.

This form of my invention involves generally, two spaced supports A, a head B supported by each support to be shiftable or adjustable vertically, means D operable to shift or adjust the head vertically relative to the support, a beam E extending between the heads B which beam may be substantially longer in this form of the invention than that shown in Fig. 1, two or more bodies F spaced a substantial distance from each other along the beam E and supported by the beam, a shaft G carried by each body each shaft carrying one or more disc cutters H, a prime mover J carried by each body F, drive means K between the prime mover J and the cutter shaft G, means L for adjusting the bodies along the beam, means M for handling water or the like, so that it is delivered to the cutter and various other parts, and the other features of construction involved being the same as those involved in the form of my invention shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

To insure accurate cooperation between the bodies F I prefer to establish a rigid connection between the bodies. In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown the bodies connected by beam members I I0 fastened to the sides 55 of the bodies by cap screws or bolts Ill. By this construction the bodies F which are in tandem will operate in exact unison with each other and the disc cutters H carried by the two bodies will accurately track one behind the other as the bodies move along the beam E.

The machine that I have provided may be used to make various cuts, it being particularly useful for making a pair of parallel cuts which may extend between spaced bores so that the material between the bores and between the cuts forms a test block that can be readily removed. For example, in Fig. 1 of the drawings I show the body or slab of cement C provided with spaced bores l0l and I show the cutters H in the process of being operated by the bores to form spaced longitudinal cuts 102 that extend between the bores establishing a test block I03, which is free to be removed when the longitudinal cuts are completed. To make the desired longitudinal cuts the means D is operated to feed the cutters into the concrete C at one of the bores I!!! and when the cutters have been fed into the block to penetrate it the means L is operated to move the body F along the beam so that the cutters advance from one bore IOI to the other.

In the form of invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings the machine is capable of cutting test members of substantially long lengths in a very short period of time. This is accomplished by providing more than one cutting unit along the beam member in which case the disc cutters of these units track one behind the other. If

two units are employed a test member can be cut in one half the time than that required if only one cutting unit is employed. Or, if three are employed, one third of the time. In Fig. '7 of the drawings I show the body or slab of cement C provided with spaced bores 18! .so that the cuts I02 formed by the cutters H establish a test block in the same manner as described in connection with Fig, 1. It is to be understood that the particular cutters employed in the machine may be varied depending upon the material being out. For example, in the case of cutting concrete the cutters may be discs of steel provided at their peripheries with diamonds or other cutting members. When the discs are rotated at a high speed the diamonds effectively cut the concrete or reinforcements that may be encountered in the concrete.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not Wish to be limited or .restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A machine of the character described including, two spaced supports, a vertically adjustable head on each support, a tubular beam ex tending between the heads, means operable to adjust the heads relative to the supports including a screw and nut unit at each head and an operating shaft extending through the beam and between the units whereby they are operated in unison, a body slidably carried by the beam, a prime mover carried by the body, a cutter carrying shaft carried by the body, and a drive between the prime mover and the cutter carrying shaft, each head forming a housing and the nut of the unit at each head being within the housing formed thereby.

2. A machine of the character described including, two spaced supports, a vertically adjustable head on each support, a beam extending between the heads, a body slidably carried by the beam, a prime mover carried by the body, a cutter carrying shaft carried by the body, and a drive between the prime mover and the cutter carrying shaft, each support including a base having a transverse part and wings projecting from said part to brace it.

3. A machine of the character described including, two spaced supports, a vertically adjustable head on each support, a beam extending between the heads, a body slidably carried by the beam, a prime mover carried by the body, a cutter carrying shaft carried by the body, and a drive between the prime mover and the cutter carrying shaft, each support including a base having a transverse part and wings projecting from said part to brace it and spaced posts projecting upwardly from the base.

4. A machine of the character described including, two spaced supports, a vertically adjustable head on each support, a tubular beam extending between the heads, a body slidably carried by the beam, means operable to shift the body along the beam including a shaft parallel with and at the exterior of the beam and a rack and pinion mechanism driven by the shaft, a prime mover carried by the body, a cutter carrying shaft carried by the body, a drive between the prime mover and the cutter carrying shaft, and means operable to adjust the heads vertically on the supports including a screw and nut unit at each head and an operating shaft for the units extending through the beam, each head forming a housing and the nut of the unit at each head being within the housing formed thereby.

5. A machine of the character described including, two spaced vertical supports, a vertically adjustable head on each support, a beam extending between the heads, a body slidably carried by the beam with a housing portion depending beneath the beam, a prime mover carried by the body above the beam, a cutter shaft carried by the lower end portion of the housing portion of the body, two like disc cutters on the shaft and spaced longitudinally thereof, and a drive between the prime mover and the cutter carrying shaft including a jack shaft carried by the body extending through the upper end portion of the housing portion of the body, a drive at the exterior of the body from the prime mover to the jack shaft and a drive within the housing from the jack shaft to the cutter shaft, the last-mentioned drive being in a vertical plane intersecting the longitudinal axis of the beam and engaging the shaft between the cutters.

6. A machine of the character described including, two spaced supports, a vertically adjustable head on each support, a beam extending between the heads, a body slidably carried by the beam and having a case portion directly beneath the beam, a prime mover carried by the body directly over the beam, a cutter shaft carried by the case portion of the body, two like disc cutters on the shaft and spaced longitudinally thereof, a drive between the prime mover and the cutter carrying shaft including a jack shaft carried by the body, a drive at the exterior of the body from the prime mover to the jack shaft and a drive within the case portion of the body from the jack shaft to the cutter shaft, the cutters being adjacent the sides of the case portion of the body, and a cutter guard on each side of the body one of the guards being between a cutter and the first-mentioned drive, the last-mentioned drive being in a vertical plane intersecting the longitudinal axis of the beam and engaging the shaft between the cutters.

7. A machine of the character described including, two spaced supports, a vertically adjustable head on each support, a beam extending between the heads, two units slidably mounted on the beam and each including, a body slidably carried by the beam, a prime mover carried by the body, a cutter shaft carried by the body, two like disc cutters on the shaft and spaced longitudinally thereof, a drive between the prime mover and the cutter carrying shaft including a jack shaft carried by the body, a drive from the prime mover to the jack shaft, and a drive from the jack shaft to the cutter shaft, and means coupling the units together in spaced relation to operate in unison along the beam, the cutters of the units being in line with each other, the last-mentioned drive being in a vertical plane intersecting the longitudinal axis of the beam and engaging the shaft between the cutters.

FRANK L. HOWARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 247,109 Reese Sept. 13, 1881 1,090,646 Perkins Mar. 1'7, 1914 1,149,533 Patch Aug. 10, 1915 1,488,164 Pollard Mar. 25, 1924 1,909,001 Nelson May 16, 1933 2,254,046 Pearson Aug. 26, 1941 

